2024-2025 Winners
MEET 2024-2025 MFMA SCHOLARSHIP WINNERS!
Julianne Jones
Utah State University
Major: Aviation Technology / Forest Ecology Management
I have always done things just a little differently. It isn’t common to have a young woman enter the male dominated world of aviation, it is even more unusual for a young woman to pursue the niche of aviation wildland firefighting. I am such an uncommon and determined individual. In this pursuit, I feel a strange kinship for the salmon that are driven by an internal compass to swim great distances against the current. I, too, have a long "swim" ahead of me to arrive at my goal and this scholarship award will help by paying for flight fees for advanced aviation training at Utah State University. I will merge my passion for flight and our wild outdoor spaces by flying for the US Forest Service to help combat wildfires. I would love to serve in eastern Oregon to help manage and protect the forests in my own backyard (the Umatilla, Wallowa-Whitman, Ochoco, and Malheur National Forests) where I have spent countless hours camping with my dad.
Aidan Hilger
University of Southern California
Major: Architecture
I am incredibly grateful for the Maple Flooring Manufacturers Association's generosity and for supporting my passion for designing a more sustainable world. This scholarship is vital to helping me pursue my degree in Architecture, specializing in sustainable design at USC. I admire MFMA's mission to build high-quality, long-lasting, sustainable wood floors, further motivating my interest in wood as a primary building material due to its enduring quality, renewability, and health benefits. By prioritizing wood within my designs, I will create beautiful spaces and make informed decisions that promote sustainability in architecture. I greatly appreciate your support!
Alan Chausse
University of Maine
Major: Forestry
The MFMA scholarship will allow me to pursue my dream of a career in forestry. It will reduce stress associated with paying the bill for my tuition and allow me to focus on my pursuit of a forestry degree. I will use my degree to make a positive impact on the world through sustainable forest management. I am grateful for the opportunity provided to me by the MFMA and will stay in touch in the future.
Reeshane Villarama
Pratt Institute
Major: Architecture
Receiving the MFMA Scholarship will be pivotal as I embark on my final year as an architecture major at Pratt Institute. Financially, it will alleviate the significant burden on my family and me, allowing me to focus more intently on my academic and professional development. This support will enable me to fully immerse myself in advanced coursework and project work. This scholarship will help me find the opportunity to attend seminars, workshops, and networking events, essential for deepening my understanding of architectural innovations.
The MFMA Scholarship will be instrumental in enhancing my studies, particularly in my pursuit of researching sustainable materials and community-focused design. I will have greater freedom to delve into advanced research projects, exploring innovative materials and technologies that contribute to environmentally responsible architecture. Additionally, it will encourage me to engage more with community-based projects, allowing me to design solutions that address real-world needs and reflect my passion for creating spaces that positively impact local communities. This scholarship will thus empower me to integrate sustainability and social responsibility into my architectural practice.
Caleb Schoessow
University of Wisconsin - Stevens Point
Major: Forestry
Thank you so much for this opportunity. This scholarship will significantly ease my financial burden, allowing me to concentrate more on my studies and less on financial concerns. My family struggles to pay for my mother’s cancer treatments and my brother’s type 1 diabetic care, so this scholarship will enable me to fully engage with the opportunities UWSP offers and advance my career in natural resources. Thank you once again for your generosity and support.